The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-06-02
A Rich Man Gone.
Greel.yilic Nc,vs, 4Mdy SO.


{ Hewlett Sullivan, who was said TO be
the third richest man in this county. ard:
who was one of the most widely known
and marked men in this part Of the State,
died on yesterday at the residence Of DR..
]. Latimer, in this city. Mr.ssulli..
van had been living in the city only a
few weeks, having come here at the
urgent solicitation of DR.. Latimer, with
whom he formerly lived in the country,
to receive 1.-The: care and attention. he,
needed in his condition. It has been
evident that the end-Ras near, and MIR.
Sullivan seemed to understand that fact
fully. Much of bis time toward the last
of his consciousness was spent in prayer
and in receiving the visits of the Rev.
Dr.. Mendenhall, of the Baptist church,
and almost The last coherent words he
spoke were an expression of his belief
that God had forgiven his sins and would
save his soul. Soon after one o'clock
yesterday he died quickly and very easily,
after lying long time barely breathing,
although his pulse remained full and
strong almost until the last. There was
no struggle or evidence of pain.
The dead man was in his eighty.eighth
year, having been born in 1900 in the
Fork Shoals neighborhood of Green7ille
county, where he lived until his final
removal to this city. He had very few
educational advantages and very little
property to begin with, but he accumu-
lated fortune of S250,000 by work,
saving and shrewdness in investing and
collecting. He was farmer, but did
much trading" or speculation, espe'
cially in land, and lent money.
Mr.. Sullivan was peculiar in mauy
respects. He lived nearly all his life in
a house little better than cabin, with
only the plainest and cheapest furniture
and but one servant. He was probably
the worst dressed white man in Green.
vile county and seemed to hold it as 8
matter of pride to wear shabby and cheap
clothing. These peculiarities were not
entirely the result of disposition to
save, for the deceased was the oldest
member of a very large family and con:
nection, almost all people of wealth and
position, and he might have found 3
home and comfort with almost any OF
them if he had wished. He held to his
manner of life from choice and would
doubtless have enjoyed keenly the
amazement of strangers who came here
and saw him pointed out as one Of the
richest men in the State. In his cabin
he sometimes had $25,o00 or more in
currency, but no attempt was ever made
to rob him and he seemed to fear none.
He was man of great strength, being
six feet and a half high, and in that and
his shot gun and revolver he had abso
lutte confidence.
His death will probably cause much
trouble throughout this part Of the State.
He has piles and piles of notes, many
secured by mortgages, and in the settle.
ment of the estate these will probably be
collected. Notwithstanding a general
belief otherwise, Mr.. Sullivan was an
easy creditor. Some of the notes he
leaves are nearly out of date; many
othera have only very small part pay
ments. So long as debtor showed a
disposition to acknowledge his debt end
pay what he could, he was not pressed,
but Mr.. Sullivan bitterly resented any.
thing like an attempt to cheat him, and
never forgave it. Notwithstanding his
shrewdness, he was many times the vic.
tim Of, sharp practice or of his own
feelings. Few who madeIa direct appeal
to his compassion were repulaed, and
that fact was made use of to swindle
| him. He could not tolerate anybody
who had thus over. reached him or whom
he suspected Of having tried it, and he
had. strong prejrdices otherwise, being
disposed to form dislikes, sometimes on
slight grounds. There are many, how.
ever, to whom he has been a friend in
time Of fneed who will remember him
gratefully.
During the last few years Mr.. Sullivan
has been involved in much litigation.
He has had some heavy losses, and last
year gave away much of his property to
favored nieces and nephews, so that his
estate is probably worth only between
$150,00o and 100000. Part of it is in
valuable farming land in this county,
Anderson and Laurens much of it is in
notes and, mortgages, and there is some
bank and other stock and probably a
considerable sum in cash.
The will scatters the property among
the relatives of the deceased. Jno. D.
Sullivan, of this city, receives 1000, G.
M. Sullivan, of Fork Shoals, receives
$4,000, j. H. Latimer receives $4,000.
These are the largest legacies. Many
other members of the family receive
81 900 or less. The greater part of the
estate is not. disposed of by legacy, and
of this remainder DR.. j. P. Latimer will
probably receive handsome share.